Silo



W. BAYLEY SLO Filed- Jan. 26, 1926 June 25, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .lune 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,718,729 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BAYLEY, or SPRINGFIELD, oiIIo.

sILo.

Application. filed. January 26, 1926i. Serial No. 83,887.

My invention relates to silos and the like, and more particularly to a silo or tank struoture forint-ul from sheet metal or similar wall sheets.

lilhereas .it is the usual practice to construct sheet metal silos, tanks and the like by interconnecting the wall sheets into horizontal courses, the present invention contemplates courses with their length or major dimensions vertically disposed, and the horizontal joints or connections between each successive vertically arranged sheets preferably offset or staggjgercd. To this end, the structure. which is of substantially cylindrical form is provided upon its interior with spaced studding or struts preferably comprising angle bars, which extend vertically from the foundation to the top of the structure, and to which the vertical u'iargins of the wall sheet are attached by bolts or rivets. such sheets being provided with marginal shoulders. by which they are intcrcoimected to resist internal pr sure or bursting strain independent of the attachment bolts, thereby relieving the attachn'ient bolts of shear strain. Th e structure is provided with a paiiel having therein a succession of access opei'iings. which door panel is designed to resist the internal pressure or bursting strain equally with the peripherally arranged wall saeets, so that such strains are proportionately7 distrilguittul among `the various wall sheets, throughout the full height of the structure.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure, as well. as the means and Inode of injterconnectin the `wall sheet and structural parte, whereby such silos will not only be cheapened in construction. but will be more elticient in use. capable of being easily and quickl v assembled. of maximum strength and durability, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A. i'further object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal silo construction, which will afford minin'ium obstruction or interference to the free descent of the ensilage.

A further object of the invention is to provide iurfn'oved means for reinforcing such silo or tank structures. against internal pressure. or bursting and shearing strains.

A furth er object of the invention is to provide au improved door panel construction, which will afford a vertical succession of closely positioned access openings, while maintaining maximum strength and resistance, equal. to that of the remainder of the structure.

rA further object of the invention is to provide improved means for joining contiguous wall sheets.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of assembly or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, F l is a top plan view of the assembled silo or tank structure, with the roof or cover removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof` showing the left hand half of the structure in section, and looking toward the interior of the. door or access opening panel, while the right half of the structure is shown in exterior elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the door or access opening panel showing the disposition of the access opening and the Inode of reinforcement.

Fi g. 4; isa detail sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive are developed detail views illustrating the inter connection of the wall sheets with each other and with the studding and frame of the access opening panel, the parts being shown disconnected in the several views 5 to 8, and as finally assembled in Fig. 9. Figs. l0 to 17 inclusive illustrate various methods of intercoimecting the wall sheets one with another. These forms of joints apply particularly to the vertical margins of the wall sheets, although they may be applied also to horizontal joints. Figs. 1S to illustrate different methods of connecting the wall sheets or horizontal joints.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1-1 is a plurality of vertical studs of angle bars, which at their lower ends are embedded in a foundation 2 of concrete or masonry. These vertical angle bars or studdings although located inte- I'iorly of the walls of the structure, are of uniform continuous dimension and thus afford no obstruction for the lodgment of ensilage. By being firmly anchored in. the foundation 9., such angle studdings resist all wind pressure, and materially assist and reinforce the side wall .sheets in resisting internal bursting strain. Secured to the vertical studs or angle bars 1-1 are wall sheets 3, preferably of sheet metal, but which may be of other suitable material.. These wall sheets 3 are vertically disposed upon the angle bars or studs 1, that is to say, the sheets are arranged with their length or major dimension upright. The sheets of each vertical series are preferably oHset or staggered relative to each other to break the horizontal joints,y sothat in no instance will the horizontal joint between the sheets 'be continuous circumferential]yof the structure. These wall sheets 3 are so joined and arranged that approximatelytlie full area-'of the sheet is utilized; The sheets are joined by` abutting the inturned marginal marginal edgesof the-sheets are on the outery faces'of; alternate sheets, and: on-the inner faces of the intermediate sheets. The Figs. 5 toI 8. illustrate this succession of joints, in

. whichV Fig- 5 illustrates the interlocking connections `ofthe wallisheet 4 3 to the door or access opening panel, while Fig. 7 shows the relationy of the outwardly faced reverse niarginal-edge @ofthe first. sheet 3 of'theseries and the inwardly faced reverse marginal flange of the second sheet 3 of the series which is to be interconnected with the first` sheet 3.

Fig.v 8 shows -tlie relation ofthe interlocking marginalfedgcsofftlie-second sheet 3 and a third sheet-3b,- whichoccurs coincident with the-second-of the angle -bar studs or studduig 1. These 'wallv sheets are provided with punched holes in proximity to their reversed margins, to receive clamp bolts 5. In the fin al assembly or linterconnection ofthe sheets, the i reverse margins ofsuccessive sheets are arranged in overlapping relation, as shown in Fig. 9-With the inturned edges 1-et of the` successive sheets abuttingone upon the other. Theyare clamped inthis positionbj7 the vbolts 5 which arel preferably provided fwith a collar or Washer 6, which serves to `hold` the Ioverlapped slieets in interlocked relation with` their marginal inturned edges abutting 'one upon Athe other to resist internal pressureor' bursting straim'wholly independent off the clamp bolts 5. The bolt-5 Ais thus relieved'of all shearing strainand serves merely the purpose ofliolding theslieet against thestudding orv angleA bar 1', wit-hout` however, suining any'resistaiiceto shearingor pull;

ing strains ofthe sheet. This same ideaof Vtransmitting tension strains from one sheet to another independentvv oft the attachment bolts, by subjectingtheedges of the inturned` margins to the bursting or shearing strains,

may be effected in other ways, as has been shown in Figs. l() to 16. For example in Fig. 10 a sealing strip 7 is employed having inturned marginal edges which interlock hetween theinturnedmarginal edges 4 of the wall sheets to serv 1. as a coupling member hctween tlie sheets. In this case, thc. attachment bolt` 5 extends through registering not chcs in the folded abutting margins of the wall shccts 3 3 and thence through the sealing or couplingstrip 7. As in thel construction before described, the bolt 5 serves merely as a clamp or attachment bolt, while thc pull ing or shearing strain is resisted solely hy the intcrlockcd coupliner strip 7. In Fig. 1.1 this construction liasfbecn moditicdhjx employing a chan nelzshaped coupling strip 9, upon the internal. shoulders 10 of which, thc edges ot thc inturned lmargins 4t ofthe wall sheet abut. ln this casethe wall sheets are separated at thci r forward edges sufficiently to permit the cxtension of, the clamp bolt 5 therebetween, without intersecting the wall sheets. This clamp bolt. 5 engages with the coupling strip 9, and serves to clamp the reversed margins of the wall sheet between the strip 9 and the angle bar or` studdingl.

The construction shown in Fig. 12 is quite similar to thatl shown in-Fig. Il. cxccpt that the folded margins of the wall shccts arc brought closely together necessitating registering notches in such folded margins for the accommodation of thcclnnp holt 5. Otherwise-the sheets are connected and the shearing or pulling strain resisted h vthc channel shaped coupling strips 9, having its internal shoulders 10, upon which abut the edges of the reverse margins elY of the wallsheets.

Fig. 12B-illustrates a further mmlificaiion wherein the. wall sheets laretormed with marginal offsets or rabhcts 1l, which engage within a channel shapedroupling strip 1Q. The clan'ipbolts extend through thc overlapped portions of these offset margins of the sheet, and lhencethrough the channel shaped coupling strip 12 lo clamp thc sheets in their overlapped relation. In this form of joint annuxiliarjv tiller strip 1? is disposed interiorly of the-overlapped offset or rabbetcill portion of thc sheet. around which such oitsetiportions extend. Obviously, such iller strip may it desired bc formed integrally with the angle bar l. '.ln. Fig. 1-l. the inturned marginal edges of the wall sheet aresliown in thc saine abutting relation as inFig. 9, but-iiraddition thereto a channel shape coupling strip 14 exleriorly of the overlapped courscs ot the sheet serves to clamp the sheets ininterlocked relation-luider iniuence of the clamp bolts and so reinforce such joints. Fig. 15 is quite similar to the construction shown in Fig. 10.*exccpt that the margins ofthe coupling strip are not inter-A posed between the reverse marginal edges of the wall sheet. In this construction, the

loo

,Folded edges ot the sheet are arranged in close Contact or abutting relation as in Fig. 12, and in lieu of the internally shoulder or channel shaped coupling strip shown in Fig. 12, there is employed a strip ot' sheet metal having its margins inturned in somewhat the saine manner as the Vall sheet, which register with and abut upon the edges oit such Wall sl'leet.

Fig. 1G is quite similar to Fig. 12 and Fig. 17 quite similar to Fig. 15, except that in these ligures a. double series oit attaclnnent or clamp bolts are en'1ployed.

Thus in Whatever torni the joint between successive sheets may embody, the strain incident to internal pressure is transmitted directly trom one sheet to the other, through the reverse marginal edges AWholly independent ot the attachment or clamp bolts, thus relieving the latter from shearing strain. rlhe same :torni ot joint or interconnection may be utilized tor horizontal joints as Well as tor the vertical joints. However, for economy of manufacture and ease of assembly, the heretotore described method oi' connection as illustrat-ed in F 5 to 16 are preterably applied to the vertical seams or joints. At their upper and lower ends, the Wall sheets 3 are preferably outturned or flanged as at 15, in Fig. 18. The upper flange ot such joint, which is the lower tlanged end ol. the Wall sheet is 'further downturned as at 1G 'to overhang the lowermost liange 15 ot the joint and exclude moisture from between such flanges and project the nut and thread o l' the clamp bolt 17, by which such outturned abutting tlanges are interconnected. In lieu ol this flanged joint at the upper and lower ends ot the wall sheet, such Vall sheets may be abntted edge to edge as shown in Fig. 19 and then interconnected by an overlapping cli-.minded band or hoop 1S, which is con nected at spaced intervals Ato the Wall sheets 8 by short clamp bolts 19. As shown in Fig. 19, these clamp bolts are ot special formation, having rather loW rounded heads, which will `ailford minimum resistance to the descent ot ensilage in close proximity to the Wall. In Fig. 2t) substantially the same construction previously illustrated in Fig. 12 is shown applied to the horizontal joints between the end ot the sheet. In such construction the upper and lower marginal ends of the sheets are reversed upon themselves to parallelism, and overlapped by a channeled band or hoop, the internzil shoulders ot which abut upon the reverse margins of the sheet.

Intermediate two of the vertical spaced angle iron or stud ding 1 1, there is provided a door panel, located at 2t), Figs. 1 and 2, and illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. This door or access opening panel comprises tivo spaced upright angle bars or struts 2121, lwhich are located in alined registry with the internal studding 1-1 at opposite sides of the access openings. These exterior struts 21 are transversely intercolmected at spaced intervals by tie hars 22, preterably though not .necessarily ot channel term. 'lhese channel bars are preilrrably united to the struts 21, by welding, but may be riveted or bolted as conditions require. The structural trame thus formed by interminnected struts and cross bars is rein'lorced by triangular plates These rein'torcement panels are preferably :formed by b'ei'ld ingbarkward along diagonal 4l ines, upon itsel'li, the corners ot a sheet olfv metal, such as is used to 'lorm the side walls 3. This folded section 231i et sheet metal inturned at its marginal end as at 2111, (Fig. 4t), tor interlvrlringI engagament with the inturned margin l ot the wall sheet 3. Inasmuch as this iforms a threefold thickness ot metal at thisl joint, the reverse triangular llaps or folds oli the reinforcement sheet 223 are also marginally reversed as at 25 (Fig. il) This reversal o1' the marginal edge at 25 serves as a liller or spacer, intermediate the iframe gtrut 2 1 and the internal angle bar stud l. Ihe reintorced panel including the vertical struts 21 and cross bars 22, with their triangular braces or reintorcement plates 23 is bolti ed or riveted to the internal angle har studs 1-1 at opposite sides of the access opening, and serves to complete the annular connection of the wall sheets. The construction ot this access opening panel such that its strength is equal to or greater than/thatot the distributed wall sheets 3, so that notwithstanding the tactthat such panelA contains a series ot closely positioned access openings, it possesses also the necessary requisite strength to resist the internal pressure or bursting strain to which the silo may be subjected. The acc ss openings 26, formed intern'lodiate the cross bars 22 of the panel plates are de'l'ned by the triangular brace plates or reinlorcement plates 23, diagonal. openings or acc s o pen ings ot rectangular term turned with their diagonal corners in a vertical :dined position. This'enables the top and bottom ot such access openings to be brought closely together,

separated only by the wid th ot the transverse panel tie bar 22, so that in removing ensilagc it is necessary to litt it only a very small distance at any time, in order to pass it through oneor another oit the openings 26. At the inner side o1 each ot the a( ss openings 26, there provided a closure door 27, the margins ol: which are tlanged or otl'set at 28 to overlap the inner angle bar or studdings 1 1, and to enable such closure doors to bear tightly against the triangulall brace plates 23. These closure doors are hinged at their upper extremities as at 29 to the interior ol the transverse tie bars 22. They are held in their closed positions by pivoted buttons or tingers 30, carried by the lower portion of the door, and turned into overlapping relation with the reinforcement or brace plates 23. Such locking buttons or fingers may be provided at the bottom of the closure door for engagement with the transverse tie bar 22, as shown at 31 in Fig. 3. By the provision of a door panel having therein a series of closely associated access openings, as described, the erection of s ueh a panel is very materially simplilied. Such door panel may be assembled completely or in extended sections at the factory. The door panel being factory constructed ready to set upright, the opposite sides of the panelmay be connected with thestructure, by the interlocking of the wall sheet joints, by unskilled labor. l/Vhen so constructed the resistance to bursting strain is uniformly distributed, and the structure is not at all weakened by the provisionof the closely associated access openings, inasmuch as the reinforced panel or frame containing such access opening possesses strength and resistance to Vbursting strain, equal to or greater than a like area of Wall sheets. Thile any transverse obstruction within the silo structure, which would afford lodgment for the ensilage is objectionable, the provision of internal vertically disposed angle bar studs 1 1 is not susceptible to this objection inasmuch als these bars are continuous throughout their vertical extent and While reinforcing the walls of the structure, they afford no interference with the movement of the ensilage, which will descend along such studdings 1 1 as freely as along the interior faces of the Yall sheet intermediate such studding. The construction has the further advantage of enabling the use ofv full size metal sheets in upright or vertical arrangement, enabling the horizontal joints to be broken or offset, which is of material advantage indistributiug strain and avoiding the shearing e'fect encountered very often when the wall sheets are arranged in horizontal courses or tiers. rlhe internal reinforcementafforded by the vertifallr spaced angle bar struts serves to securely anchor the structure y to the foundation and materially increases its resistance to wind pressure, as well as sti ttening the lWalls and increasing their resistance to internal bursting pressures. I

Cross reference is made to co-pending application, Serial No. 83886 filed of even date herewith. Y

From the above description it will. be apparent. that there is thus provided a device of the character. described possessing the Y particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its Y advantages.

lVhile in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific. details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into ell'ect and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a silo construction, a substantially cylindrical. tank like structure, comprising a series of spaced upright studs and a plurality of wall sheets secured thereto, said wall sheets being arranged with their lnajor dimension vertically disposed and joined on vertical lines coimident with said studs, Iabutment shoulders formed in spaced relation with the. edges of the sheet, coupling strips overlapping the joints and having interlocking engagement with the abutment shoulders of adjacent shcets and connecting the sheets into a continuous strain resistant series and attaclmumtmembers connecting the coupling strips with the studs, the internal bursting strains of the structure being transmitted from one sheet to another through said interlocking joints indepelulent of the attachment means to said studs, adjacent sheets being vertically ollset to afford non-alined horizontal joints, a door panel and interlocking connections between the door panel and the wall sheets at oppositie sides thereof complet ing the cylindrical structure.

2. In a silo const-rlu-tion, a substantially cylindrical tank like structure, vformed from sheet metal, a door panel forming a part of said structure, a series olE spaced vertically arrangeijl studs arranged interiorly of the sheet metal walls of the structure, the margins of the sheets being reversely bent to parallelism, abutment shoulders formed by said reversely bent margins, said abutment shoulders being intereonneeted with cach other to form a continuous strain resistant series of sheets, and means connecting said sheets with said studs, said means being relieved of shearing strains by the interconnection ot said sheets.

3. In a silo, a substantially c vliinlrcal tank like structure, the walls of which .include a plurality of metallic wall sheets arranged in vertically disposed alinement, the sheets of successive vertical courses being oli'set verti ally to interrupt the continuity of horizontal joints, the margins of succctaling sheets being rcversely bent to parallelism to form reversely facing abutment shoulders having interlocked engz'igement willi cach other to resist internal bursting strains independent of other supporting means, a door panel and interlocking abutment shoulders` upon the door panel and adjacentwall sheets thereby completing the cylindrical structure.

4. In a silo construction, a foundation, an

lll() annular series ot vertically disposed spaced studs anchored in said foundation, a plurality of .metallic wall sheets interconnecting the vertical anchored studs one with another, interlocking joint connections between succeeding sheets by which the sheets are enabled to resist internal bursting strains independent oit their connection with t-he studs, a door panel and interlocking joint connections between the door panel and adjacent wall sheets to thereby l'orm in conjunction with said wall sheets a substantially cylindri-l cal tank like structure.`

5. In a silo construction of the character described, a tank like structure, the walls oi which include a plurality ot metallic wall sheets arranged in a succession ot vertical courses, the marginal edges oiE the sheets being reversed, and coupling means upon which the marginal edge ot' each sheet abuts, con-f necting the sheets into a tension resistant series through which strains are distributed uniformly and enabling 'the interconnected wall sheets toresist tension strains incident to internal pressure independent el other sujiporting means. l

(i. In a silo construction olt the cluiracter described, a tank like structure, the Walls ot which include a plurality 'of metallic Wall sheets arranged `in a succession oiE vertical courses, said sheets being formed With marginal shoulders, and a complementary mein ber having corresponding shoulders upon which the shoulders o'l' a plurality ot sheets abut, connecting the sheets into a tension resistant. band through which the bursting strains are distributed and afll'ording sub stantially uniform resistance to tension strains .incident to internal pressure. 4

7. In a construction of the character described, a structure having walls termed from a succession of metallic sheets, the margins ot the sheets being reversed upon themselves to parallelism to form stop shoulders, said stop shoulders of successive sheets being coupled one to another into a continuous tension resistant band through which strains are distributed from one sheet to another enabling resistance to tension strains incident. to internal pressure Within the structure.

8. In a construction of the character described, a structure having Walls formed from a succession ot metallic sheets, the margins of the sheets being reversed upon themselves to parallelisnrto term stop shoulders, said stop shoulders of successive sheets being abutted one upon another to ai'ord a continuous tension resist-ant band to enable resistance to tension strains.

9. In a construction of the character' de scribed, a structure having yvalls formed tronaa succession of metallic sheets, the

ders, and a reversely shouldered member, the shoulders ot which abut upon the oppo- `sitely disposed shoulders of ditterent sheets sheets one upon another, forming a continuous tension band throughout which pullingI strain is distributed from one to another in opposition to tensionstrains incident to internal pressure wit-hin the structure, independent of the attachment of said sheets to the struts.

l1; In a silo construction ot the character described, a plurality of spaced upright studs,

a plurality ot Wall sheets attached thereto, said Wall sheets being interlocked one to another upon vertical joints into a continuous strain resistant succession throughout which tension strains are transmitted trom one -sheet to another independent oi their attachment to said studs.`

12, In a silo construction of the character described, a plurality ot spaced upright studs, a plurality ot Wall sheets attached thereto, said wall sheets heilig reversely bent along their vertical margins to form vertical stop shoulders, the vertical shoulders of one sheet being1 abutted upon another sheet to torni an interlocked succession throughout which tension strains are transmitted from one sheet to another to enable the sheets to resist interna] bursting strains independent of their attachment to said studs.

13. In a silo construction of the character described, a plurality of spaced upright studs, a. plurality of wall sheets attached thereto, the marginal sheets being reversely bent along their marginal edges to :term vertical stop shoulders, and coupling means interconnecting the reversed margins oit ditlerent sheets to form a continuous tension regian, a trulli ture having Walls of sheet material, and a doei-'panel comprising upright spaced studs,

v'transverse bars vconnecting said studs to at'- ford therebetween a vertical succession of access openings, and means for interlocking the panel with the wallsof `the-structure to enable resistance to tension strains.

16. In a silo construction, a tank like structure, having walls of sheet material,` and a door panel comprising upright spaced studs, transverse bars connecting said studs to at- .ford therebetween a vertical succession of access openings,v vertical abutment shoulders v,formed upon the walls of the structure, ad- `jacent to the door panel and corresponding diate the tie bars, vertical stop shoulders formed'adjacent to the margins of therein forcement plates ofsaid .panel and engageable With those of the structure Wall to enable resistance of tension strains. i l

' 18. VAs an article ofmanufacture, a door panel for silos and the like, comprising parallel spaced studs, .transverse'tie bars interconnecting the struts, .diagonally disposed brace members overlapping the angles of the studs, and .tie bars, said diagonal brace members defining a succession of substantially rectangular access openings having thcirdiagonally opposite corners i'nvertical alignment.

19. As an article of manufacture, a door panel for silos and the like, comprising parallel spaced studs, transverse tie bars interconnecting the studs, and brace members diagonally connecting the struts and tie hars und Aforming therebetween a succession of polygonal access openings.

i 2t). As an article of manufacture, a door panel for silos and the like, comprising parallel spaced studs, transverse tie bars interconnecting the studs, diagonal brace members arranged transversely of the angles of the struts and tie bars, and closure. doors armargins of which overlap said openings` and pivoted locking buttons carried by the doors and overlapping the diagonal brace members.

22. As an article of manufacture, a. door panel for silos and the like, including a pa ir el' spaced upright angle bars, transverse channel bars interconnecting the upright angle bars in spaced relation, reinforcement plates extending diagonally across the angles ot' the upright angle bars and transverse channel bars, and vertically disposed shoulders formed on the inner face ot said panel for engagement with corresponding shoulders upon the wall of a silo structure to enable resistance to `tension strains.

As an article of manufacture, a door anel for silos and the like, comprising paral- 'el spaced vertical studs, transverse tie members interconnecting the studs and angularly disposed wall sections extending intermediate the studs and separating the intermediate space into a plurality of spaced access openings.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my `hand this 5th day ot January, A. l). 1926.

WILLIAM BAYLEY.

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